Dr. Robert Gross practices preventive medicine and family practice with Family Medicine Centers in Canyon.

Q: What are some health issues that men should be concerned about that women shouldn't?

A: With the exception of different specific end organ systems, health concerns are relatively consistent.

Although incidence of disease processes may vary by sex, family history, genetic predisposition, personal habits and environment can impact occurrence significantly.

Q: What are the biggest issues facing men and their health?

A: Men don't face health issues, they avoid them. They wait until there is a big problem before they seek care, when earlier would have been better.

Q: Is prostate cancer in men about as common as breast cancer in women?

A: The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 218,890 cases of prostate cancer in 2007 and 178,480 cases of breast cancer in women in 2007.

So, it's a little more likely for man to develop prostate cancer than woman to get breast cancer.

Q: At what age should men begin having a regular prostate exam?

A: The National Institutes of Health recommends after age 50 that men should receive a yearly rectal exam to check for prostate cancer.

As men get older, colon and prostate cancer becomes a greater concern.

As an example, if one looks at the age occurrence curve for prostate cancer, a man that lives long enough is virtually assured of developing prostate cancer.

Q: Does such a thing as male menopause exist?

A: In woman, menopause is brought on by the failure, or surgical removal, of one of the endocrine systems of the body: the ovaries.

The failure is a normal aging process where estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels drop.

The results on the individual can manifest in multiple different ways. Men also experience a failure in an endocrine system normal for age.

Testicular output of testosterone and androgen drops dramatically.

It only makes sense to me that this change could have multiple manifestations as well, although if I think about it too much, I just get a hot flash.

Editor's Note: Five Questions is a feature for the Monday Globe-News. Each week a reporter will ask a newsmaker five questions. If you know of someone who would be a good subject, e-mail citydesk@amarillo.com or call (806) 345-3300. Please include the person's name, contact information and suggestions of questions you would like us to ask.